System for sampling, testing and filtering air for contaminants

Abstract

The invention herein disclosed is a system that supports sampling, testing and filtering of air in selected small volumes of air within a larger air pool.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a flexible, ribbed hose; 
 a hose-positioner subsystem operative to receive position data from a position-detection device on an open end of said flexible, ribbed hose, and to convey position-control commands to positioning elements within said flexible ribbed hose, wherein said positioning elements can expand, contract and bow in response to said position-control commands; said position-control commands are a result of processing done by a microcontroller subsystem based on said position data and programmed algorithms; and said position-control commands are conveyed to a hose-position controller by said microcontroller subsystem and by said hose-position controller to said hose-positioner subsystem; 
 an air intake subsystem comprising:
 an incoming air port; 
 an air exhaust port; 
 an electric pump operative to draw air in through said incoming air port and blow air out through said air exhaust port; 
 
 a first air duct operative to convey air from said air exhaust port to a sensed-air input port; 
 a sensor subsystem comprising
 a sensing device operative to detect the presence of contaminants in air entering said sensed-air input port and to convey sensed-air results data to a sensor controller; 
 
 wherein said sensor controller is operative to receive said sensed-air results data, to convey said sensed air results data to said microcontroller subsystem, and to convey valve-control commands to said sensor subsystem;
 a valve operative to conditionally direct air flow exiting said sensor subsystem to a filter subsystem or an air exhaust subsystem, based upon said sensed-air results data, wherein:
 if contaminants are present, said air flow is directed to said filter subsystem via a second air duct; 
 if contaminants are not present, said air flow is directed to said air exhaust subsystem via a third air duct; 
 
 
 said filter subsystem comprising:
 one or a plurality of filters operative to remove contaminants from air flowing through said filter subsystem; 
 a fourth air duct via which post-filtered air exiting said filter subsystem is conveyed to said air exhaust subsystem; 
 
 said air exhaust subsystem being operative to convey air flowing in from said third air duct or said fourth air duct to an air exhaust subsystem exhaust port; 
 an active air intake controller operative to receive electric pump on and off commands from said microcontroller subsystem and to convey said electric pump on and off commands to said air intake subsystem; 
 said microcontroller subsystem comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 random-access memory; 
 stored program memory comprising said programmed algorithms; and 
 an input-output system; 
 
 a first set of bidirectional data paths operative to convey data between said microcontroller subsystem and said air intake controller, said hose position controller, said sensor controller, and a network interface; 
 wherein said network interface is operative to convey commands and other data between said microcontroller subsystem and a network server; 
 a bidirectional network data path operative to convey said commands and other data from said network server; and 
 a power supply subsystem operative to provide operating power to:
 said air intake subsystem; 
 said active air intake controller; 
 said hose positioner subsystem; 
 said hose position controller; 
 said sensor subsystem; 
 said sensor controller; 
 said network interface; and 
 said microcontroller subsystem. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A system as in  claim 1  wherein said sensor subsystem comprises one or more sensors operative to detect particulate contaminants. 
     
     
       3. A system as in  claim 1  wherein said sensor subsystem comprises one or more sensors operative to detect gaseous atomic or molecular contaminants. 
     
     
       4. A system as in  claim 1  wherein said sensor subsystem comprises one or more sensors operative to detect biologic pathogen contaminants. 
     
     
       5. A system as in  claim 2  wherein said one or a plurality of filters are operative to remove said particulate contaminants. 
     
     
       6. A system as in  claim 3  wherein said one or a plurality of filters are operative to remove said gaseous atomic or molecular contaminants. 
     
     
       7. A system as in  claim 4  wherein said one or a plurality of filters are operative to remove said biologic pathogen contaminants. 
     
     
       8. A system as in  claim 1  wherein said power supply subsystem is powered by self-contained replaceable batteries. 
     
     
       9. A system as in  claim 1  wherein said power supply subsystem is powered by a utility power source via a wired interface. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 positioning an air intake hose to a first one of several predetermined positions; 
 turning on an air intake electric pump once said intake hose is in said first one of several predetermined positions; 
 sensing the air taken in for contaminants while keeping said hose in said first one of several predetermined positions; and 
 determining if the sensed air contains said contaminants wherein:
 if said contaminants are detected then diverting air flow through a filter subsystem while keeping said air intake hose in said first one of several predetermined positions until sensor results are negative for contaminants; and 
 if no contaminants are detected, then moving said air intake hose to a new predetermined position.